Ga. parents, offended by the ‘Far East religion’ of yoga, get ‘Namaste’ banned f

[El]

Ga. parents, offended by the ‘Far East religion’ of yoga, get ‘Namaste’ banned from school

“We need to direct our attention inward and connect to the breath,” yoga instructor Rachel Brathen writes in her New York Times best-selling book about the practice. “Focusing on our breath keeps us present, calms the mind, and allows us to develop the awareness of the body we need to practice with care and compassion.”

Since the ancient discipline with roots in Hinduism and Buddhism became a popular exercise in the West, yogis have inundated popular culture with their pursuit of that elusive “calm” in a rapidly spinning world.

“Mindfulness,” the meditative state associated with yoga, has likewise been adopted as a way to clear the mind.

So when administrators at Bullard Elementary School in Kennesaw, Ga., implemented yoga and other mindfulness practices in the classroom to reduce students’ stress, they probably envisioned peace and relaxation in their future.

Instead, they received a flurry of complaints — from parents who felt yoga represented the encroachment of non-Christian beliefs.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bullard’s principal, Patrice Moore, sent parents an email last week announcing changes to its yoga program.

“I am truly sorry that the mindfulness/ de-stressing practices here at Bullard caused many misconceptions that in turn created a distraction in our school and community,” Moore wrote. “While we have been practicing de-stressing techniques in many classrooms for years, there have been some recent practices associated with mindfulness that are offensive to some.”

Among the elements of the program that will be eliminated: the Sanskrit greeting “Namaste,” placing hands “to heart center” and coloring pages with the symbol of the Mandala (a spiritual symbol in Indian religions representing the cosmos).

Moore noted that a rumor had also spread about using or teaching “about crystals having healing powers.”

“We will ensure that nothing resembling this will be done in the future,” she said.

[University yoga class canceled because of ‘oppression, cultural genocide’]

Parents were concerned about yoga’s spiritual origins.

“No prayer in schools. Some don’t even say the pledge of allegiance,” Cobb County mother Susan Jaramillo told NBC affiliate WXIA. “Yet they’re pushing ideology on our students. Some of those things are religious practices that we don’t want our children doing in our schools.”

Christopher Smith, whose sons attend Bullard, shared a similar sentiment on Facebook.

“Now we can’t pray in our schools or practice Christianity but they are allowing this Far East mystical religion with crystals and chants to be practiced under the guise of stress release meditation,” he wrote. “This is very scary.”

Smith directed people to “google ‘mindfulness indoctrination.'”

Cheryl Crawford, a yoga instructor who has taught at several Atlanta-area schools (although not Bullard), told the Journal-Constitution that yoga can help calm students who are anxious about their studies or coping with anger and bullying issues.

The exercise is not intended to endorse any faith, she said.

“It’s a way to get children aware of their breath patterns, their tendencies and habits,” Crawford told the Journal-Constitution. “Often times they’re focused outwardly, they’re not focused inwardly. It helps them if they’re very worried. … It’s a physical act, but you’re using your mind and your breath.”

Ommmmmmm.

This brings back memories of the whacko Christianity I was raised with.  I remember my mother banning me from watching some kids' show because the characters on it mentioned doing yoga.

['andersom']

In Nepalese "namaste" is the word for "hello".

It's good to ban all kinds of friendly greeting. "Repent and atone" should be the new "hello".

['andersom']

Few years ago, parents visiting a baptist church not far away from where I live had influences like that in school too. Creative teaching always help. No colouring of round mandalas. But, round colouring pages were now said to be inspired by round stained glass church windows. (Same principle.)

I was amazed by the fear living in some of these baptists. One of them got terrified, because on the other side of the road, rural area, few hundred meters away, the neighbours had a Buddha statue in the windowsill.

They tried to get fairytale books banned too, because animals can't speak. The school did not humour them there, thank goodness.

[ZEGH8578]

I'm glad I was never raised in a strictly religious household.

I was instead raised in a confusedly religious household
Confused is always better than strict though, because there are no defined rules to follow.

[Icequeen]

I'm always amazed how something that preaches... do good things for those in need, turn the other cheek, and love your neighbor...can be so close-minded and fearful of them at the same time.   

Heaven forbid we let our children practice mindfulness and meditation...it might undo the brainwashing we've done to them.

[Parts]

And on the other side of the isle 

Yoga has become the latest victim of political correctness on university campuses after a free class was cancelled because of complaints that the lessons were an unacceptable “cultural appropriation” of a non-Western practice.

Jennifer Scharf, a yoga practitioner who has offered free weekly sessions to students at the University of Ottawa in Canada since 2008, said she was shocked to receive an abrupt message telling her the classes were to be suspended.

Link

Lunatics in every direction

['andersom']

I'm always amazed how something that preaches... do good things for those in need, turn the other cheek, and love your neighbor...can be so close-minded and fearful of them at the same time.   

Heaven forbid we let our children practice mindfulness and meditation...it might undo the brainwashing we've done to them.

Thought these parents wanted to keep any type of brainwashing from their kids.

“No prayer in schools. Some don’t even say the pledge of allegiance,” Cobb County mother Susan Jaramillo told NBC affiliate WXIA. “Yet they’re pushing ideology on our students. Some of those things are religious practices that we don’t want our children doing in our schools.”

["couldbecousin"]

And on the other side of the isle 

Yoga has become the latest victim of political correctness on university campuses after a free class was cancelled because of complaints that the lessons were an unacceptable “cultural appropriation” of a non-Western practice.

Jennifer Scharf, a yoga practitioner who has offered free weekly sessions to students at the University of Ottawa in Canada since 2008, said she was shocked to receive an abrupt message telling her the classes were to be suspended.

Link

Lunatics in every direction

  LOL, Yoga Wars.  It's such a radioactive hot-button topic. 

[Jack]

Would have to agree any religious/spiritual practice has no place in American public funded schools.

[Gopher Gary]

 

['andersom']

Would have to agree any religious/spiritual practice has no place in American public funded schools.

But how far will you go in purging all religious remnants from habits and words.

Even the word "good" is tainted, being connected to the word "god".

I don't think banning all religious thoughts and ideas from schools will work. Rather would see that there are multiple influences and that kids learn to think of their own what they want to do with it. Kids can do more than parents think they will be capable of.

[odeon]

Would have to agree any religious/spiritual practice has no place in American public funded schools.

But how far will you go in purging all religious remnants from habits and words.

Even the word "good" is tainted, being connected to the word "god".

I don't think banning all religious thoughts and ideas from schools will work. Rather would see that there are multiple influences and that kids learn to think of their own what they want to do with it. Kids can do more than parents think they will be capable of.

Banning everything is not realistic but avoiding the fundies will go a long way.

[Jack]

Would have to agree any religious/spiritual practice has no place in American public funded schools.

But how far will you go in purging all religious remnants from habits and words.

Even the word "good" is tainted, being connected to the word "god".

I don't think banning all religious thoughts and ideas from schools will work. Rather would see that there are multiple influences and that kids learn to think of their own what they want to do with it. Kids can do more than parents think they will be capable of.

A curriculum which includes Buddhist meditation practices and learning materials containing Buddhist symbols is no different than a curriculum which includes Christian prayer and crosses. It simply has no place in the public funded education system. The fact some people find Buddhism more helpful or less harmful than other religions is irrelevant to the separation of church and state.

[Jack]

Moore noted that a rumor had also spread about using or teaching “about crystals having healing powers.”
“We will ensure that nothing resembling this will be done in the future,” she said.

Reads like they did something resembling that.

[DirtDawg]

Few years ago, parents visiting a baptist church not far away from where I live had influences like that in school too. Creative teaching always help. No colouring of round mandalas. But, round colouring pages were now said to be inspired by round stained glass church windows. (Same principle.)

I was amazed by the fear living in some of these baptists. One of them got terrified, because on the other side of the road, rural area, few hundred meters away, the neighbours had a Buddha statue in the windowsill.

They tried to get fairytale books banned too, because animals can't speak. The school did not humour them there, thank goodness.

One of our neighbors with same age kids as us was deeply offended when she came to pick up her kids after a day of pool time and hot dogs on the grille.

As my wife walked her through the house to the pool area the uptight neighbor noticed a "Harry Potter"  book on the coffee table that my wife was reading.
Once she had hustled her kids home to "safety" she came back to warn us that she will tolerate no more contact with us, since we are obviously in league with Satan.
Also expressed how she felt betrayed by us for corrupting her children.

Hey, grilled hot dogs and some summer fun in a pool; Those kids of hers are totally Fucked For Life!!